AFCON chaos and World Cup disaster highlight Pape Thiaw’s troubled stint with Senegal
By Luke Oluoch, July 13, 2026Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw was relieved of his duties on Sunday, July 12, 2026, marking the end of his turbulent tenure with the Teranga Lions.
In an official statement, Senegalese FA boss Abdoulaye Saydou Sow candidly acknowledged that the team’s tournament goals were not met, which ultimately led to the decision to part ways with the coach.
The Teranga Lions had targeted at least a quarterfinal berth but were eliminated by Belgium in the Round of 16. This knockout defeat followed an underwhelming group stage campaign that included losses to both France and Norway.
“Thank you, Coach Pape Thiaw. Our paths diverge today, but the memories and the legacy you leave behind will continue to inspire. We wish you every success in the next chapter of your journey,” the national team’s statement read.
K24 Sports delves into the major controversies that defined the coach’s dramatic tenure.
The 43-year-old Thiaw was appointed in December 2023, taking over the reins from Aliou Cissé. His stint got off to a dream start as he led the team to the AFCON final. However, that rapid rise aged poorly for the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN)-winning coach.
A combination of federation sabotage, locker room unrest, and a disastrous World Cup campaign ultimately doomed his final days at the helm.
AFCON final chaos
In January 2026, Senegal faced host nation Morocco in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Rabat. The match exploded into chaos during second-half stoppage time. Infuriated by the referee’s decision to disallow a potential match-winner from Ismaïla Sarr—and subsequently award Morocco a late penalty—Thiaw ordered a complete player walk-off.
The standoff delayed the game for 17 minutes, but the real consequences came back to bite the gaffer later. CAF stripped Senegal of the trophy, officially awarding the title to Morocco due to the abandonment.
Thiaw was handed a severe five-match CAF suspension and hit with a $100,000 fine for bringing the game into disrepute.
Thiaw also endured a frosty relationship with the Senegalese Football Federation ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Rumors that his contract would not be renewed dominated team preparations, amid reports that the federation wanted to replace him with veteran coach Hervé Renard.
Although the FA moved quickly to quell fears over the contractual standoff, the damage was already done.
World Cup collapse and sacking
The chaotic contract standoff bled onto the pitch. After Thiaw reportedly threatened to quit the team hotel hours before kickoff, a disorganized Senegal lost their opening matches to Norway (3-1) and France.
Though they scraped through the group stage, catastrophe struck in the Round of 16. The Teranga Lions inexplicably blew a 2-0 lead in the dying minutes against Belgium, crashing out 3-2 in extra time. The fallout was immediate: midfielder Pape Gueye publicly revolted, refusing to play under the gaffer again. Left with a fractured dressing room and immense external pressure, the federation swiftly sacked Thiaw.